Back muscle for arabesque

[boccardo_v]

HI! I have a question, i want to know what kind of exercises or movements I could do everyday, so that my arabesque can become higher and easier to carry. I can get my leg at 90 degrees, but when I want to have it higher (for adagios) it does not go anywhere. I'm also trying to do legmounts and scorpions as a goal. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks

[Victoria Leigh]

Legmounts and scorpions??? Can you please explain those terms, as I don't believe I have ever heard of either of them.

[boccardo_v]

Yes, of course! My apologies. basically this http://www.danceclassfinder.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hailee20scorpion1.jpg

except not en Pointe So, your back leg is farther up than an arabesque and you bring it back to your head almost your foot touching it.

 

A leg mount is the same thing but your back knee is straight. More difficult to do. http://25.media.tumblr.com/eec3b3d8d615f76e2d6bb1a13433dba5/tumblr_mogzc5eRqO1rrkaw6o1_500.jpg

 

I hope you can see the pictures!

[ascballerina]

Ms Leigh (or Clara...) to see the first picture, you might need to backspace the ?w=96 at the end of the link. It loads properly for me when I do that.

[Victoria Leigh]

Don't need to see them, got it from the description. Those are acrobatic/rythmic gymnastics moves, and have nothing to do with arabesque. Stretches for arabesque need to be in the kind of alignment one uses for an arabesque. Those moves push the pelvis and ribs extremely forward and create a huge lower back curve, which is not even in the ball park for what one needs to do. Opposite, actually.

 

Boccardo_v, without seeing you we cannot definitely diagnose your problem, but my guess is that you are not moving your upper body forward and upward, in opposition to the leg moving back and up. The weight moves forward, the torso moves up, the leg moves back, allowing the hip to open only enough to get the gluteous maximus out of the way and allow the lift and rotation of the leg. You are probably pulling your upper body back, which restricts the movement upward of the back leg, and possibly not allowing the hip to open enough to bypass the gluteous. If this is not the case, then you will need to post some photos on a photo website and give us the link so that we can see you.

 

Please note that I said open the hip, and that should be as slightly as possible. It is not lifted, just opened. If you try to keep the hips totally square you don't have a prayer of a decently rotated arabesque.

[Clara 76]

If I may- why are those contortion poses your "goals"? Do you wish for a Cirque du Soleil type job? Or are you more interested in Classical Ballet? Does your school permit these types of poses or encourage you to 'do' them?